Category Archives: Detoxing the body

Wow! I finally found a natural shampoo and conditioner that does not leave my hair dull and lifeless! Some of the other brands I’ve tried are, Dr. Mercola, Everyday Shea and Argan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo. Although these products are less chemical than my all time favorite shampoo, Redken Color Extened, my thin hair was heavy and dull and I was beginning to give up hope. Andalou leaves my hair shiny and light, and checkout this list! This product is certified organic, fair trade, no parabens, sulfates, GMO, petrochemicals, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, colors or preservatives. pH balanced & hypo-allergenic. Vegetarian and cruelty free!

Since becoming a master esthetician, my education involving ingredients of skin care products and how they affect the skin has helped me to developed an annoying habit of reading ingredient lists on everything (sometimes ignorance is bliss). I am constantly re-evaluating many products that I use including; skin care, sunblock, make-up, laundry detergents, perfumes, household cleaners, supplements, toothpaste and mouthwash, and now shampoo, conditioners and hair styling products! And we won’t get into food ingredients, that will be another blog post.

I’ve read that sodium lauryl sulfate can contribute to hair loss, there are lots of detailed articles out there that provide this information. Wikipedia, one of my favorite information sources on the internet, provided this information about the carcinogenicity of SLS, “Toxicology research by the U.S. OSHA, NTP, and IARC supports the conclusions of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) and the American Cancer Society that SLES is not a carcinogen.

My opinion, maybe it is not a carcinogen at certain levels or exposure percentages, but when every product you use on or around you has SLS and other chemicals as an ingredient, those levels and exposure percentages have to be higher than what the CTFA, SLES, OSHA, NTP and the IARC expected. Right? Also, I love the motto, if you can’t eat it and not get sick, don’t rub it into your skin.

SLS is also looked down upon in the skin care industry because of its ability to strip the skin of oil, which is not ideal for dry or sensitive skin types. Your scalp is the most absorptive place on your body, you should be aware of what you are putting on it everyday because in the long run, not dousing your scalp in chemicals and bi-products has to make a difference. If I wouldn’t use it on my face, I certainly shouldn’t use it on my scalp!

I find myself asking almost everyone one of my skin care clients this question during treatment because of a book I’ve read….

My friend Sammy showed me this book about six years ago and really all I remembered of it was that it said for my blood type, I couldn’t eat cashews and I love cashews so I didn’t give this book much more thought. But that was before I became an esthetician and obsessed with all things skin.

For the last two years I have come to notice the very strong connection between the health of the skin and nutrition. When I came across this a few months ago for the second time I saw it in a whole new light. I’m not a big fan of fad diets, but this diet is not just to shed a few pounds it is for the HEALTH of your body (including your skin!)

I have learned through plenty of other nutrition books that the less your body has to filter, (preservatives, food coloring, hormones, pesticides, antibiotics) the more beautiful your skin will be and this means eating a very clean, usually vegetarian, vegan, or raw diet.

Many people I know, (including myself being an A- blood type), benefit from a meat and dairy free diet. I also have known people who have tried these types of diets and end up wasting away into skin and bone or experience very upset digestive systems. It’s argued that this author’s research is not backed by enough published evidence.…. but judging from my small interviews with people, most A blood type people tell me that they have a hard time digesting red meats and experience gas after eating dairy. And the O blood types I know always say that a vegetarian diet just wasn’t enough for them. In the book you learn about the four blood types and what foods are beneficial, what food are irritating and the reasons why. Is it just coincidental that over and over in my interviews my clients say the same thing the book says about their diets? I think not.